Mint Juleps. Not just for racists.

Let's have a mint julep.

Yeah!

Wait.

What is a mint julep?*

In May I bought two mint plants at the local farmers market. It was an impulse purchase. I don't know what to make with mint. I don't know what it might flavour. Or what it goes well with. Lamb, I guess. They smell nice. That's why I bought them. Plus plants create the facade of maturity.

Four weeks later the mint plants are thriving, with strong leaves (or sprigs) and tall... uhhh.... shafts and that delightful aroma has not wavered. But because of all this growth and (what's a good farming word?)... harvest...YES. Because of this bountiful harvest I am confronted with an important question. What should I do with this mint? And then my answer comes. The price of Jim Beam has dropped 3 dollars.

Bourbon, folks. Let's all have a nice antebellum moment with a fine glass of bourbon.*

[* Marks the finishing of a mint julep, and the mixing of a new one.]

The thing seems rather elementary. Ice. Bourbon. Mint. Sugar. (Maybe water and/or lemonlime). Apparently (and fittingly) the mint julep is the traditional beverage of the Kentucky Derby. According to Wikiwhatnot, over 120, 000 are sold at Churchill Downs in 2 days!*

You'll hear the mint julep referred to as a sort of bourbon mojito. I guess this is something. Smirnoff has recently released a premixed vodka mojito and certainly that's evidence of the cocktail's reestablished popularity. This mix-master-theorist predicts a similar renaissance of The Kentucky Classic. Buy a couple mint-plants and that cheapened Jim Beam. People will think you're trendy and mature. *